only according to our ignorance are we helpless. thought...

The Bombay Theosophical Bulletin May 2014 Vol.83 No.8

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF

THE BOMBAY THEOSOPHICAL FEDERATION

Volume 89 No.1 October 2019

Only according to our ignorance are we

helpless.

Thought creates Character.

Annie Besant

(1847-1933)

2 ________________________________________________________

The Bombay Theosophical Bulletin October 2019 Vol.89 No.1

MISSION OF TS To serve humanity by cultivating an ever deepening understanding and realization of the Ageless Wisdom, spiritual self-transformation and the unity of all life

CONTENTS

Cover

BTF 88th Annual Session October 2019 2 - 4

The 144th International Convention 2019-2020 5

News & Notes 5 - 6

Commemoration Meeting for Sis.Dolly Wadia 6 - 7

‘Dr. Annie Besant’ by Prof. C. A. Shinde 8 - 10

BTF& Lodge Programmes October 2019 11 - 12

PROGRAMME OF BTF 88TH ANNUAL SESSION

18th, 19th &20th October 2019 CHIEF GUEST

Shri Shikhar Agnihotri International Lecturer Theosophical Society

THEME

From Intelligence To Intuition

Friday 18th October 2019 – Opening of Annual Session

Venue: Blavatsky Lodge, 7- French Bridge, Mumbai 400007

5.30 p.m. Welcome Tea

6.00 p.m. Lighting of the Lamp & Prayers of All Religions

Opening of Annual Session, Reading of Greetings

Welcome & Introduction of the Chief Guest

by President Bro. Vinayak Pandya

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Editor – Bro. Rustom R. Dalal Cover Page By: Sis. Kashmira Khambatta

Editorial Committee –Sis.Mahazaver Dalal (Reporter & in charge of Mailing List),

Sis. Kashmira Khambatta, Sis. Aban Patel and Ex-Officio: President Bro.

VinayakPandya. Note: News, Notes and Programmes to be printed in the

Bulletin be forwarded by e-mail to: [email protected] or

[email protected] latest by 16th each month. Readers’ Views are

invited.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

3 ________________________________________________________


6.30 p.m. Opening Address by Chief Guest Shri Shikhar

Agnihotri on ‘Homing Signals Within’

7.15 p.m. Prize Distribution for Dani & Mullan Elocution

Competitions with speeches of First Prize Winners

Saturday 19th October 2019

Venue: Blavatsky Lodge, 7- French Bridge, Mumbai 400007

5.30 p.m. Welcome Tea

6.00 p.m. Universal Prayer

6.05 p.m. Introduction of the Chief Guest

6.10 pm Address by Chief Guest Shri Shikhar Agnihotri on

‘Assessing The Homing Signal Within’

7.00 pm Round Table Maitreya ‘Flower Ceremony‘

Sunday 20th October 2019 – Session at Juhu

Venue: Juhu Theosophical Colony, Mumbai 400049

9.40 a.m. Tea & Snacks

10.25 a.m. Bharat Samaj Pooja

11.10 a.m. Welcome by BTF President & Juhu T. Colony

11.18 a.m. Presentation of Membership Appreciation Mementos

11.20 a.m. Public Talk on ‘Truth, Goodness & Beauty’ ’

by the Chief Guest Shri Shikhar Agnihotri

followed by Q & A

12.20 p.m. Annual General Meeting

(Annual Report & Audited Accounts 2018-2019

will be given at AGM)

12.45 p.m. Lunch

2.30 p.m. Symposium on ‘Thinking with the Heart’ by

Brethren of BTF

Chaired by Chief Guest Shri Shikhar Agnihotri

3.30 p.m. Tea

4.00 p.m. Bharat Natyam by Students of Sis. Namita Bodaji

4.40 p.m. Vote of Thanks

5.00 p.m. Closing of the Annual Session

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Blavatsky Lodge Book Depot Counter will be open at Juhu

Session. Brethren interested in specific books please inform in

advance Blavatsky Lodge Book Depot Manager Sis. Freny

Paghdiwala Tel: 23806564

Note: for Symposium there will be 5-6 speakers and each speaker

will get 5-7 minutes. BTF wishes that young members and new

participate in the Symposium. Please give your names to BTF

Secretary Sis. Mahazaver Rustom Dalal (M): 9833131216

Registration for Juhu Session (with or without Bus):Rs.100/-

Register your names latest by 10th October 2019

with Blavatsky Lodge Assistant Sis. Asha Tel: 23685026 or

at Juhu with Dr. Ajay Hora Tel: 26151060

Bus Service for Juhu on 20th Oct.-pick-up timings & stops:

6-45 a.m. Colaba – Cusrow Baug

7-00 a.m. Dhobi Talao – Metro Cinema

7-10 a.m. Opera House – Blavatsky Lodge

7-25 a.m. Tardeo – Ganga-Jamuna Theatre

7-30 a.m. Byculla – Ismalia Co-op. Hsg. Society

7-35 a.m. Byculla – Palace Cinema

7-50 a.m. Dadar – Damodardas Mithaiwala

8-00 a.m. Mahim – Paramount Restaurant

8-15 a.m. Bandra – Lucky Restaurant

8-45 a.m. To reach Juhu Theosophical Colony

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THOSOPHICAL YEAR BEGINS ON 1ST OCTOBER

BRETHREN IT IS TIME TO PAY YOUR ANNUAL

DUES. ‘THE INDIAN THEOSOPHIST’

SUBSCRIPTION AND LODGE FEES

Please contact your Lodge for the payment of Indian

Section Annual Dues are Rs.150/-, Subscription of ‘The

Indian Theosophist’ Rs.30/- and your Lodge Fees.

5 ________________________________________________________


THE 144TH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

at INDIAN SECTION TS, VARANASI

31st December 2019 to 5th January 2020:

Theme: Nurturing the Divine Seed Convention Officer: Shri Shikhar Agnihotri: (M):+91-8840926268 or (M):+91-9839912070

E-mail: [email protected]

Rohit Mehta Hostel Registration with full board:

Registration Rs.500/- + Food Rs.1750/- + Accommodation Rs.5950/-

= Rs.8200/-

Indian Style Accommodation Registration with full board:

Registration Rs.500/- + Food Rs.1750/- + Accommodation Rs.950/-=

Rs.3200/- Last Date for Registration: 1st December 2019

Cheques / Bank Drafts in name of:

Indian Section, The Theosophical Society

Registration Form available on Websites:

(1) www.theosophy-india.org (2) www.ts-adyar.org

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NEWS & NOTES

SHANTI LODGE NAVROZE CELEBRATION MEETING on

29th August 2019: Sis Meher Contractor in her talk on ‘Zend –A-

Vohumana’- ‘Explanation to Good Mind’ said: Bahman

Ameshaspand, One of the Seven Archangels of Ahuramazda, is in

charge of Love, Peace & harmony and Animal Kingdom. In

Zoroastrian scripture Soul of Mother Earth is represented by Cow.

This is the reason why in Zoroastrian calendar month of Bahman,

Zoroastrians abstain from eating meat. Ahuramazda’s Creations (both

Material & Spiritual) were with the help of Bahman Ameshaspand.

Zarthushtra after His revelation was taken to Ahuramazda by Bahman

Ameshaspand so it is said Vohu Mana – Good Loving Mind - leads

one to Ahuramazda. Thoughts lead to words and words turn into

actions. Actions have to be good for entire world so thoughts have to

originate from Vohu Mana for all levels of Consciousness. ‘Zend-A-

Vohumana’ is a prayer with explanation of Vohumana and it tells

http://www.theosophy-india.org/

http://www.ts-adyar.org/

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about things to happen during four Ages (Golden, Silver, Copper and

Iron) and union with the Creator.

Sis. Ratamai Peer had shared her personal experiences of how

Vohumana – Good Loving Mind - helps.

There were refreshments after the meeting.

OBITUARY: Dr. Jitendra Sanghavi, member of Vasanta Lodge

passed away around June 2019. Sorry, we learnt about his passing

away late. He was interested in study of Theosophy. May his soul be

blessed with peace.

COMMEMORATION MEETING FOR SIS.DOLLY WADIA

Montessori Educationist and dedicated TS Member of 33 years

of Ananda Lodge On 30th August 2019 at Besant Montessori

School, Juhu Theosophical Colony

Sis. Kavita Rode, Principal of Besant Montessori School pays

tributes to ‘Our Dear Aunty Dolly’, who passed on peacefully to her

onward journey on Wednesday, 28th August 2019 sharing the

sentiments of the Commemoration Meeting

A true Theosophist and Montessorian, Aunty Dolly who was

passionate about education will be greatly missed by everyone with

whom she was associated. She was a walking encyclopedia on

Theosophical ideologies and the Montessori Method of learning. She

was an incredibly warm and kind person and touched countless lives

at her beloved Besant Montessori School, in her family and beyond.

At the prayer meet held in her memory on Friday 30th August, her

friends, well-wishers, students and parents attended it in large

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numbers despite heavy rains. It was an emotional moment for all

present. Those who spoke about her, the words came from their

hearts. There was so much to share, so much to say that the time did

not seem enough.

In a nutshell, the qualities that came to the fore about her for which

she will always be remembered was her gentle nature, her ever

smiling face and her special understanding of not only children but

parents too, who looked forward to meeting her for her invaluable

advice. ‘The precious lessons she taught me were facing adversity

with courage and resilience, being truthful irrespective of the

consequences and seeing the humour in even the worst of situations’.

These were the sentiments shared by her niece Dr Coomi Vevaina

Some messages posted on social media were- a wonderful human

being and a pure soul touching millions of young buds with her

magical ways. She had unstoppable energy, infectious positive vibes

and gigantic love for children. Dr Shaunak Hora and Ms Zenobia

Khodaiji said they were blessed to be associated with Aunty first as

students, then as parents and finally as co trustees.

Besant School has lost its very soul but we will strive to

uphold

the principles she lived by and

will keep the flame of her memory alive in all our efforts.

BTF President Bro. Vinayak Pandya paid homage to her

recollecting her warm hearted support to BTF Annual Sessions over

the years by giving all facilities at Besant School.

She was a Co-Freemason of High Degree. Lodge Concord is

grateful to her for attending meetings regularly despite her leg

problem . She had served as Treasurer for Juhu Masonic Lodge for

many years.

May her soul blessed with Eternal Peace continue her noble work on

Higher Planes.

8 ________________________________________________________


DR. ANNIE BESANT –

HUMBLE SERVANT OF HUMANITY

An extract of article by Prof. C A Shinde

Courtesy: The Theosophist of September 2019

The Guru Manthra imparted by gurus to their disciples is matchless:

The root of meditation is the form of the guru,

The root of worship is the feet of the guru

The root of Manthra is the word of the guru

The root of liberation is the grace of the guru

Dr Annie Besant gave us a mantra for meditation to have

integrity or harmony within, in the form of a Universal Prayer.

Dr. Besant composed the Universal Prayer, or invocation, on the

request of certain serious students from South India, and gave it to

them as the mantra for meditation and contemplation. There are

hidden trinities in the Prayer: ‘Life-Light-Love’, ‘Will-Wisdom-

Love’, ‘Atma-Buddhi-Manas’ or ‘Sat-Chit-Ananda’. If one blends his

heart and mind together, a masterpiece comes alive.

Dr. Annie Besant, Second International President of the

Theosophical Society (TS) from 1907 to 1933, was a reformer,

stateswoman, author, and the world’s greatest female orator. Her

essential teaching was that human progress is not only in material

advancement but also in the moral foundation and the spiritual

insights of the people. Her service to India and the world are in many

ways incomparable. Her life, speeches, and writings considerably

moulded many people and their philosophy of life. Her great gift to

humanity is the knowledge of Theosophy.

She was not only a Theosophist but also an occultist and all her

greatness was rooted in her living faith in the Masters of the Wisdom

and her teacher Madame H .P. Blavatsky, the messenger of

Theosophy. As a multi faceted personality she worked as a humble

servant of humanity. In fact her name has to be inscribed in Golden

9 ________________________________________________________


letters in Indian History as a pioneer in the struggle for Indian

freedom and the renaissance of the Hindu Religion

In mid 1909 during series of lectures in London, at one lecture she

asked: “What shall Theosophy do in the coming civilization for

Society? - society as we see it today, which is a battle, not a social

order, which is an anarchy, not an organism.” How much truer is this

description in India after 72 years of independence!

“You will think me a dreamer, perhaps; and yet I tell you a truth when

I say that not by the uprising of the miserable, but by the self-

sacrifice of the comfortable will the future society be realized on

Earth.”

“I tell you there is no joy on Earth like the sacrifice of the lower

nature to the higher, and the giving to others of the higher, that asks

nothing for itself. Along those lines our social redemption will come

…That is the future to which we look …… ‘Joy lies in giving, and

not in taking’, saying once again the old truth that only where self-

sacrifice is found, there is also a religion and civilization that can

endure.”

Thinkers of the present day, both philosophical and religious, have

often asked the question: ‘What is the place of religion in the modern

world?’All of them are agreed that the influence of religion is on the

wane. True religion is that of love and service. It solves the many

problems that affect mankind in the present day. It is such a religion

of love and service that is essential to remove the tensions and

conflicts that exist between nations, groups of men, and individuals.

In the present world it is important to understand that spirituality is

not identical with religion. Spirituality is the direct experience of

realizing the divinity within, and religion is to relate with all

existence, that is, being in tune with the surroundings. The Second

Object of the TS encourages the study of comparative religion, so that

the student of Theosophy can find the truth the source of all religions

is one, and all religions have the common teaching of oneness of life

or One Universal Consciousness.

10 ________________________________________________________


The concept of God has been expressed in all religions as

unmatched embodiment of love and compassion, and helping to

save humanity through different manifestations, incarnations, and

prophets.

Dr. Besnt spoke much about man and his bodies and the Law of

Karma. Man, as we know, normally lives in three worlds,the

physical, emotional and mental. He therefore creates results in each

according to their respective laws and powers, and all come within the

all-embracing Law of Karma. During his daily life in waking

consciousness he is creating karma, that is, results, in these three

worlds by action, desire, and thought, while in his sleeping state he is

creating karma in two worlds, the emotional and mental. The amount

of karma created by him depends on the stage he has reached in

evolution.

Let us remember harmony is the Law, order is its beauty and love is

its perfume. Life is a song: let us live it joyfully. Where there is law

no achievement is impossible, and karma is the guarantee of man’s

evolution into moral and spiritual aspects.

One of the Elder Brethren said that Theosophy is the study of the

relationship between the mortal and the immortal, the finite and

the infinite, the transitory and the eternal.

********************************************

Help Nature and work on with her; and

Nature will regard thee as one of her creators

and make obeisance. And she will open wide

before thee the portals of her secret

chambers. H. P. Blavatsky

The Voice of the Science, I.66-67

11 ________________________________________________________


BTF & LODGE PROGRAMMES OCTOBER 2019

ANNIE BESANT’S BIRTHDAY MEETING jointly by BTF and

Blavatsky Lodge at Besant Hall on Tuesday 1st October 2019 at

6.00 pm

1. ANANDA LODGE: Theosophical Colony, Juhu, Mumbai 400049.

Contact Ananda Lodge Secretary Sis. Zenobia Khodaiji (M):

9820308163 for Meeting of October 2019

2. BLAVATSKY LODGE: 7 - French Bridge, Mumbai 400007 Tel:

23685026 (M): 9821459504 (M): 9819334333

DAY TIME DETAILS

Tues 1 6.00 pm Annie Besant’s Birthday Meeting jointly

with BTF

Fri 4 6.00 pm ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Paramhans

Yogananda – conducted by Bro. Arni

narendran

Sun 6 10.00 am Bharat Samaj Pooja

Fri 11 6.00 pm Study of CWL’s book ‘Inner Life’ conducted

by Sis. Aban Patel

Fri 18 6.00 pm Opening of BTF 88th Annual Session

Satur 19 6.00 pm Second Day of BTF 88th Annual Session

Fri 25 4.30 pm

6.00 pm

Blavatsky Lodge MC Meeting

Study of CWL’s book ‘Inner Life’ conducted

by Sis. Aban Patel

Tues 8,

15,22, 29

5.45 pm

Theosophical Readings or Presentations with

discussion

3. CENTENARY LODGE:

Please contact Sis. Najma Dewan (M): 9987204038 for meetings

4. JYOTI LODGE: Contact Bro. Taral Munshi, C/101, Building No.19,

New Mhada, Garden Hill C.H.S., New Mhada Colony, Behind N.P.A.,

Goregaon (East), Mumbai 400065 (M): 9820187317

5. SHANTI LODGE:

C/o Bro. Rustom Dalal, Vijay Niwas, 2nd Floor, Plot 5, Sleater Road,

Mumbai 400007 Tel: 23800422 (M): 9833131216 Time: 6.15 p.m.

12 ________________________________________________________


Thurs 3 Study of CWL’s book ‘The Power and Use of Thought’





6. UNITY YOUTH LODGE: Sis. SoonooVesuna (M): 9619339787

Wed

16

5.30

pm

Theosophical readings guided by Sis. SoonooVesuna

at her residence Vijay Niwas, 4th Floor, Sleater Road

7 & 8 VASANTA LODGE & GANESH LODGE:C/O Sis.Kalpana

Promod Jani, 804, Ajanta. Tilak Road, OppShabri Hotel, Santacruz (West),

Mumbai 400054

Wednesday

9, 16, 23 &

30

2ndOctober

6.30

pm

Study of Gujarati Book on Annie Besant’s

book ‘Path of Discipleship’ conducted by

Bro. Bhavesh Pandya

Gandhi Jayanti – Lodge closed

9. VIMADALAL BILIA LODGE: Family House, Parsi Colony, Dadar,

Mumbai 400014

Thurs 3 5.45 Lodge Members’ Meeting

Thurs 10 6.00 Talk by Bro. Rustom Chothia

Thurs 17 6.00 Talk by Sis. Meher Contractor



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The mind that is not silent is never free;

And it is only to the silent mind that the heavens are opened.

J. Krishnamurti

Courtesy: The Theosophist Issue of September 2017

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Price: Rs. 1/- Annual Subscription: Rs. 10/-

********************************************************

Bombay Theosophical Federation, c/o Blavatsky Lodge, 7 – French Bridge,

Chowpatty, Mumbai – 400 007. (Tel: 23685026) and Printed at Vijay Copy

Centre, 48/A,Saidunnisa Building, Sleater Road, Opposite Grant Road

Station (West), Mumbai-400 007.

only according to our ignorance are we helpless. thought...

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